Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-25

oftener than to make the coveted dollar.
Dozens OF little paper pals swing in the
breeze. to be filed by smiling Indian
girls with dulces of the country; furni-
turc of inlaid woods cleverly executed
for happy children; the rays and plates
of intricate straw work forming really
beautiful landscapes or churches and
public buildings. attract the attentions;
toys without end, all well made by
lowly fingers. Evergreen boughs used
during the pasadas lie around, for never
as yet has the Christmas tree shed its
bright candle rays on expectant childish
faces. Moses bank the ground from
tender green to the grey, trailing moss
gathered from the hist orical woods OF
Chapultepec. Emblossomcd on this
called la flor de In noche bucna (the
flower of the good night, or Christmas
eve)-a flower shaped something like
our homcly suniower with Il deep
brown center from which radi
ate many long, marrow, scarlet
leaves-a beautiful flower gathered
for Christmas eve, aud it seems as
though when the bells ring out jubi-
lantly on the stroke of midnight that
these flowers raise their bright heads
in alteration TO Him above.
Following the toy, come the candy
booths, where. also, dulces Of the coun
try can be bought; sweet potatoes
stepped whole in boiling sugar; bananas
with the peel on, quite delicious. petri-
fled by sweetness: crystallized cherries
fit for the melodious thrOats of twenty
obin-redbreasts. and orange peel so
delicately remolded that it melts in the
willing mouth. On high strung cords
from booth to booth dangle the jars for
las pasadas, the large painted faces Of
the paper dolls Disgusting them either
smiling or frowning as the case may be.
They lend the fantastic side to this for
eign scene as they float, bob and bow
on the soft air TO the eager
crowd below them. From the
band stand float strains of Christmas
music. Under its magic influence we
linger until darkness claims the scene.
Then tlaring torches light the booths
and electric lights, the whole.
PRIVATE PARTIES
hire horse cars and start for pasadas in
some suburban village, decorating the
cars with flags, while lighted Chinese
lanterns festoon them with light. They
go singing on their way, breaking the
darkness of the night with fireworks.
When la noche buena (the good night.
or Christmas eve) arrives. all Mexico is
awake, is up to pay just tribute to the
Divine Leader. But no jingle of sleigh
bells on frosty, crisp air strikes the
ear, no hurrying footsteps over spark
boy awaiting the breaking of dawn for
a slide down hill! on the new sled. no
wide-halled home with its mistle
toe bough and trooping maid
ems, its big roaring fire with
toasting apples. Instead, IL warm sum
mer night with Il mellow moon sailing
TRANQUILITY over head. Within the plaza
II band of music plays to II listening peo-
pie walking and standing within radius
of its influence. Without the plaza are
camped the venders of toys and Indians
from the country, forming picturesque
groups, sleeping, kneeling and chant
shrines before which glimmcrs the
perpetual little lamp. Flarlng torches
lend wierdness to the scene. the moon.
pathos. Tread reverently among these
lowly people, dignilied by their Worship
of Mother and Son. AS the hour of mid
night strikes, hundreds of brazen
throats from cathedral and church
tower ring out on the tropical night
acknowledgment OF the birth of Christ,
and from every open church portal
music of rejoicing streams forth.
Parties OF pleasure-seekers fit
by strumming on gaily decked
cratic mansions they are dancing aud
feasting the nightaway.
Christmas is passed very much like
every other religious feast day. Big
and little bells are rung ut certain in
tervals throughout the glad day, and
their churches, places of refuge from
the storms Of life, stand iuvitingly open
to rich and poor alike, as all churches
should do. The theatres and circus
give three grand performances through
the day and evening, ut reduced prices.
| In the afternoon "6 valientes torOs n
| muete." Six valiant bulls are to meet
death in the popular bull-ring before
| thousands of this sport-lOving people.
FIRE-woRKs BOOM THROUGH THE AIR
| all day, rs we'll rs ut night, and the
| French pastry shops fill the air with
| such tempting odor that one needs
| must enter one to behold the rows upon
rows OF delicious pastry tarts, round,
or oblong and so tender that
they cannot be resisted Cake of fantas-
! tic mould and quito delicious little square
thin walls Of cake filed with whipped
| cream, the delicate whole cncrustcd
| with frost-work of curiously wrought
sugar. The smiling cook sells them
himself in immaculate white apron and
cap, convincing one with many n bow
and smile that these dainty, palatable
things rs just what one needs. But us
| one steps from the pastry shop with de-
| jccted spirit and air, for more money
than was intended has gone to the
pastry cook. tho perfume of flowers
| greet you, again the pastry assumes de-
licious proportions and you rejoice that
your money fills the cooks pockct-for
these flowers breath Of Peace on earth,
| good will toward man."
| GRACE DEANE HUNT.